Lighter.



J. D. GOUGHLIN.

LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 24, 1912.

1,084,793. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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JOSEPH. D. COUGHLIN, OF DORCHESTEIR, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL METAL SEAL CORPORATION, OF BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LIGHTER.

Application filed December 24, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, JOSEPH D. CoUGI-IL'IN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful TIIIPIOVGIIIGIItS in Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to spark producing devices and particularly to a gas lighter.

My lighter is especially adapted for thegas system of an automobile carrying a compression tank such as the usual Prestolite container.

The invention contemplates a gas lighter comprising a movable and a fixed arm, the movable arm carrying a spark producing element and the fixed arm an abrasive element. This construction broadly is old.

My invention aims to improve the construction and operation of the sparking elements themselves whereby a more satisfactory sparking is had. To this end I employ a wedge shaped abrasive member and a yieldingly mounted spark producing ele ment capable also of a positive adjustment, whereby the position of the spark element with reference to the abrasive member can be regulated proportionately as the spark element wears down.

The construction and operation of my device will be more fully described in the specification which follows, and in the drawings which form a part of the same, I have shown a preferred form of my invention which I have found well adapted for practical use.

Throughout specification and drawing like reference numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts, and in the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of my device. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on line of Fig. 1, and Fig. i is a perspective view, in section, of the sparking pencil and stem detached.

My improved lighter comprises a pair of spring arms 5 and 6 joined together at one end by any suitable fastenings, and at this end they have a squared opening therethrough to form a gas key wrench to control the supply of gas in.1 the gas tank in the usual manner. The rigid arm 5 is bent at its free end to form a horizontal extension 7, terminating in a downwardly turned stop 8. The extension 7 has tongues 9 struck inwardly therefrom, between which is mounted an abrasive member 10, in the shape of a strip having a roughened inclined upper face. This arm 5 may be suitably graduated, as by a linear scale, if desired. The movable arm (3 is formed with an inwardly turned piece 11 normally abutting against the stop piece 8, and adapted toswing in an are gradually approaching theabrasive strip 10 as the movable arm is pressed toward the fixed arm. Said piece has an opening therein through which passes a threaded stem 12 having a slot 13 at one end for the reception of a screwdriver or suitable. tool for adjusting said stem toward and from the abrasive memher. This stem is tubular and has contained in the bore thereof, a spring 14, upon the outer end of which is seated a sparking point 15 of any suitable pyrophoric material. This construction provides for a positive adjustment of the point 15 with reference to the abrasive member so that as said point wears down it may be adjusted to al- 'ays lie in the most effective position relative to the abrasive strip.

In use, the arms are grasped between the thumb and fore finger and the movable arm is pressed toward the fixed arm. This causes the sparking point to move along the serrated face of the abrasive strip producing a shower of sparks by the frictional contact. As said point is moved along the strip, it is gradually forced inwardly into the stem 12 against the tension of the spring 14 due to the fact that the arc in which the piece 11 travels is gradually approaching the strip 10. When the point has reached the inner and tapered end of the abrasive strip, it is practically entirely contained within the tubular stem. \Vhen the movable arm is released its resiliency will cause it to move outwardly toward its normal position and the sparking point will travel along the roughened inclined face of the ab 'asive strip in an are or swing away from said strip producing a shower of sparks. Inasmuch as the pressure on the sparking point is being reduced, due to its direction of swing relative to the abrasive strip, the spring l t is being released and exerts its tension to cause said point to move upwardly against the abrasive strip to effectively maintain the frictional contact.

Considerable importance is attached to the tapering of the abrasive strip and the setting of the point carrying arm at an angle to said strip so that When said arm is moved inwardly it will travel in an are gradually approaching the inner end of said strip. This insures an even and uniform pressure of the point on the strip, While as the point is moved outwardly along the upwardly inclined face of the strip, the spring 14 will exert its tension to maintain said point in effective engagement With the strip as the arc of said arm Widens.

Various modifications coming Within the spirit and scope of the invention may obviously be resorted to, if Within the limits of the appended claim.

What I, therefore, claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A sparking device comprising a pair of arms made of fiat spring stock joined to each other at one end to lie one upon the other, said arms having a hole cut therethrough at their joined ends and providing a gas key Wrench, said arms adapted for relative movement and carrying at their free ends respectively a sparking member and an abrading member.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH D. COUGHLIN. Witnesses:

VICTORIA LoWDEN, VERA E. Foss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained 'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofPatents, Washington, D. C. 

